Systems, Methods And Computer-Readable Media For Local Content Storage Within A Media Network

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and computer-readable storage media for storing or caching targeted content on a receiver device using existing bandwidth within a media network are described. For example, unused bandwidth within a transport stream may be detected and targeted content may be inserted into the transport stream within the unused bandwidth. The targeted content may include targeted advertisements for a household addressable media network. The transport stream may be transmitted to the receiver device which may access and store the targeted content responsive to various targeted content signals. For instance, the transport stream may include targeted content signals configured to trigger the receive device to access and store the targeted content. The transport stream may include a commercial feed transport stream.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/960,382 filed on Aug. 6, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/679,836 filed on Aug. 6, 2012, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The described technology generally relates to storing content at a localreceiver device within a media network, and, more specifically, to theefficient use and/or configuration of available bandwidth within themedia network for caching content at a local receiver device forsubsequent playback by the device.

BACKGROUND

Household addressable media networks, such as cable and satellitetelevision networks, allow network operators to provide specific contentto target households. For example, an advertiser may be able to send oneversion of an advertisement to a first segment of households and anotherversion of the advertisement to a second segment of households. Receiverdevices, such as set-top-boxes (STB), may be configured to cachetargeted content so that the targeted content may be accessed locallywhen a programming slot, such as an advertising slot, requires thetargeted content. However, accessing and caching the targeted content isperformed outside of normal content access for the receiver device, suchas normal television viewing by a user. Existing technology provides foradditional broadcast streams for transmitting the targeted content tothe receiver devices for local storage. However, this introducesinefficiencies and extra cost into the operation of the media networkdue to the need to handle extra bandwidth. Accordingly, a media networkmay benefit from a system in which targeted content may be provided toreceiver devices for local caching without also requiring additionalresources that diminish the value of targeted content within a householdaddressable network.

SUMMARY

This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices andmethods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in thedescription is for the purpose of describing the particular versions orembodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.

As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as anadmission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are notentitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. Asused in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but notlimited to.”

In an embodiment, a system for storing at least one targeted contentelement on a receiver device within a household-addressable medianetwork may include a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readablestorage medium in operable communication with the processor. Thecomputer-readable storage medium may contain one or more programminginstructions that, when executed, cause the processor to determineunused bandwidth in at least one transport stream being broadcast to thereceiver device, insert the at least one targeted content element intothe unused bandwidth, and provide a content storage signal to thereceiver device to store the targeted content element.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for storing at least onetargeted content element on a receiver device within ahousehold-addressable media network may include, by a processordetermining unused bandwidth in at least one transport stream beingbroadcast to the receiver device by the media network, inserting the atleast one targeted content element into the unused bandwidth, andproviding a content storage signal to the receiver device to store thetargeted content element.

In an embodiment, a receiver device for storing at least one targetedcontent element broadcast through at least one transport stream within ahousehold-addressable media network may include a plurality of tunersconfigured to tune the receiver device to receive the at least onetransport stream, a processor, at least one storage device in operablecommunication with the processor, and a non-transitory,computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with theprocessor. The computer-readable storage medium contains one or moreprogramming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor toreceive a content storage signal comprising targeted contentinformation, tune at least one of the plurality of tuners to the atleast one transport stream responsive to receiving the content storagesignal, and store the at least one pre-stored content element in the atleast one storage device based on the pre-stored content information.

In an embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable program code configured to store at least one targetedcontent element on a receiver device within a household-addressablemedia network. The computer-readable program code may includecomputer-readable program code configured to determine unused bandwidthin at least one transport stream being broadcast to the receiver device,computer-readable program code configured to insert the at least onetargeted content element into the unused bandwidth, andcomputer-readable program code configured to provide a content storagesignal to the receiver device to store the targeted content element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects of the present invention will become morereadily apparent from the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative media network according to someembodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative receiver device configured according toan embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative system for providing targeted content toa receiver device.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of exemplary internal hardware that maybe used to contain or implement the various computer processes andsystems as discussed above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The described technology is generally directed to systems, methods andcomputer-readable media configured to store targeted content broadcastwithin a media network on a receiver device for subsequent playback onthe receiver device. For example, some embodiments may provide foranalyzing a transport stream, such as a commercial feed transportstream, for unused bandwidth. The targeted content may be inserted intothe unused bandwidth and transmitted to the receiver device. One or moretargeted content signals may also be provided to the receiver device totrigger the receiver device to access and store the targeted content.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative media network according to someembodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, a media network 100 may include a mediacontent provider 105. Non-limiting examples of a media content provider105 include a television broadcast network, a cable television network,a satellite television network, an internet service provider (ISP), acomputing device advertising network, a media distribution network, acloud computing network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), or any combination thereof. The media content provider 105 maytransmit content to one or more local content systems 110 a-110 nconfigured to communicate with an audience 115 of the media network 100.The local content systems 110 a-110 n may include equipment and systemsconfigured to transmit media content received from the media contentprovider 105 to a defined portion of the audience 115. Illustrative andnon-restrictive examples of a local content system 110 a-110 n include acable television network headend, an internet service provider basestation, or the like.

According to embodiments, the media content provider 105 may beconfigured to operate across physical device platforms and networkssimultaneously. For example, content may be delivered to set-top-boxes(STBs) and/or digital video recorders (DVRs) over a cable televisionsystem, to mobile computing devices using standard network communicationprotocols (for instance, Ethernet or Wi-Fi) over an ISP network, tosmart phone devices over standard telecommunication protocols (forinstance, third Generation (3G), fourth Generation (4G), long-termevolution (LTE), or the like), and to home gateway devices through aLAN, WAN and/or ISP network.

The audience 115 may include a plurality of households 120 capable ofreceiving media content from the media network 100 through variousreceiver devices, including, without limitation, a STB, a television, aDVR, a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a mobile computingdevice, a smartphone, a tablet computing device, a home gateway, or thelike. Although multiple households 120 are depicted in FIG. 1, only oneis labeled to simplify the figure. The audience 115 may be divided intosegments 125 a-125 n based on various segmentation factors. Non-limitingexamples of segmentation factors include age, gender, occupation, yearsof home ownership, household size, income, geographic location, familysize, media consumption habits, and combinations thereof. For example,an audience segment may include males between the ages of 25 to 35 withan annual income above $50,000.

According to some embodiments, the audience may be household addressablesuch that the media content provider 105 and/or the local contentsystems 110 a-110 n may direct particular content directly to eachhousehold 120 and/or segments 125 a-125 n of the audience 115. Accordingto some embodiments, content may generally include any type of datacapable of being received and consumed by a recipient. Illustrative andnon-restrictive examples of content include advertising, entertainmentprograms, informational programs, messages, video, audio, graphical,and/or animated content. The media network 105 may direct particularmedia content, such as an advertisement or a television program, only tocertain segments 125 a-125 n.

In an embodiment, the media content provider 105 and/or the localcontent systems 110 a-110 n may be configured to implement linearaddressable systems, such as a linear addressable television advertisingsystem. In a linear addressable system, content may be targeted toindividual household 120 receiver devices, such as STBs, home gateways,and/or DVRs in a linear broadcast system. In general, a linear broadcastsystem may be configured to broadcast all or substantially all content(for example, programming networks) to all receiver devices within theaudience 115. Providing targeted content or targeted content elements,such as advertisements, within a linear broadcast system may requirethat receiver devices are able to access the targeted content during thetime that the targeted content is scheduled to be shown, which maygenerally be referred to as an “avail.”

The receiver devices may access the targeted content from varioussources. In one example, the targeted content may be broadcastsimultaneously with the avail through the media network 100 using aseparate transmission stream. In such an example, the receiver devicesmay switch to the transmission stream carrying the targeted contentduring the avail and then back to the original transmission stream (forexample, a programming transport stream) to return to the originalcontent (for example, a television program) being accessed through themedia device. According to some embodiments, the targeted content may besaved, cached, recorded, or otherwise stored on a storage device or diskaccessible by the media device. In such embodiments, the media devicemay access the targeted content stored on the storage device during theavail and then switches back to the original content after the avail hasended.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative receiver device configured according toan embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a household 215 may receive multipletransport streams 210 a-210 n, 215 a-215 n from a media network 205. Thehousehold 215 may include a receiver device 235, such as a STB, DVR, ahome gateway, a television (for instance, a “Smart TV,” a “ConnectedTV,” a “Hybrid TV,”), a computing device, or any combination thereof. Inan embodiment, the transport streams may include programming transportstreams 210 a-210 n and commercial feed transport streams 215 a-215 n.The programming transport streams 210 a-210 n may be configured totransmit programming (for example, television programs) and avail slotsto the receiver device 235 as well as information associated with theavails, including time information, information associated with thecontent scheduled to fill the avail, or the like. The commercial feedtransport streams 215 a-215 n may be configured to transmit content,such as advertising content, that may be configured to be accessedduring an avail.

The receiver device 235 may include multiple tuners 225 a-225 nconfigured to tune the receiver device 235 to a transport stream 210a-210 n, 215 a-215 n. In an embodiment, the receiver device 235 may becapable of simultaneously handling multiple transport streams 210 a-210n, 215 a-215 n using the multiple tuners 225 a-225 n. For example, tuner225 a may be tuned to programming transport stream 210 a that is beingsent through the receiver device 235 to a display device 240 operablycoupled to the receiver device for viewing by a user. Tuner 225 n may betuned to commercial feed transport stream 210 a, which may be sendingthe content from the commercial feed transport stream 215 a to a storagedevice 230, such as a DVR or hard disk drive, associated with thereceiver device 235.

A media network 205 may include multiple receiver devices 235 associatedwith a storage device 230 as well as receiver devices that are notassociated with a storage device (that is, they do not have the abilityto store or cache content) that may receive targeted content. As such,the media network 205 may transmit commercial feed transport streams 215a-215 n that are time synchronized with avails within the programmingtransport streams 210 a-210 n.

Receiving devices 235 associated with a storage device 230 may save,cache, record, or otherwise store targeted content according to variousmethods. In a first example according to existing technology, thetargeted content may be broadcast at one or more predetermined times(for example, during low activity periods such as late night/earlymorning) over a commercial feed transport stream 215 a-215 n. Receiverdevices 235 associated with a storage device 230 may be programmed totune to one or more of the commercial feed transport streams 210 a-210 nto access and store the targeted content in the storage device. In asecond example using existing technology, the targeted content may beindividually transmitted to the receiver devices 235 associated with astorage device 230 for storage therein. The transmission of the targetedcontent in such an example may require a separate connection, such as aunicast connection. An illustrative connection may include an Internetprotocol (IP) connection, for example, over DOCSIS 3.

Methods for providing targeted content for storage on a storage device230 require additional bandwidth, for example, because they usebandwidth beyond that already allocated by the media network 205 forexisting transport streams 210 a-210 n, 215 a-215 n. For instance, inthe first example, broadcast bandwidth is required at predeterminedtimes to transmit the targeted content and in the second example,unicast bandwidth is required. The use of additional bandwidthintroduces inefficiencies and costs into the media network 205 thatdiminish the benefits of providing household addressable targetedcontent, especially targeted advertising. Accordingly, embodimentsprovide methods, systems, and computer-readable media configured to,among other things, implement targeted content within a media network205 that does not require additional bandwidth for the targeted content.For example, some embodiments may use the unused bandwidth in existingtransport streams 210 a-210 n, 215 a-215 n to transmit targeted contentto receiver devices 235. In an embodiment, the unused bandwidth incommercial feed transport streams 215 a-215 n may be used to transmittargeted content to receiver devices 235. As described in more detailbelow, some embodiments may use various messaging methods tocommunicate, schedule, or otherwise initiate the loading and storage oftargeted content by receiver devices 235 associated with a storagedevice 230.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative system for providing targeted content toa receiver device. As shown in FIG. 3, multiple transport streams 305a-305 n, 310 may be broadcast, transmitted, or otherwise communicated toa receiver device 350. The transport streams 305 a-305 n, 310 may betransmitted through a media network, such as media network 100 of FIG. 1or media network 205 of FIG. 2. The receiver device 350 may includeand/or be associated with a storage device 360, such as a DVR or harddisk drive. The storage device 360 may be internal to the receiverdevice 350 or may be accessible through protocols known to those havingordinary skill in the art, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, universal serial bus(USB), serial, high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), or the like.

The transport streams may include multiple programming transport streams305 a-305 n configured to provide programming to the receiver device350. For example, the programming transport streams 305 a-305 n mayinclude television programs for a receiver device 350 that is configuredas or is configured to provide content to a television. The programmingtransport streams 305 a-305 n may also include avails 320 a-320 gconfigured for targeted content, such as household addressableadvertisements.

At least one commercial feed transport stream 310 may be transmitted tothe receiver device 350. The commercial feed transport stream 310 mayinclude commercial feed content 325 a-325 f, such as advertisements,that may be presented, for instance, during an avail 320 a-320 g. Thecommercial feed transport stream 310 may include unused bandwidth 330that does not include any content, such as the commercial feed content325 a-325 f. According to existing technology, the unused bandwidth 330goes unutilized within the media network. According to some embodiments,the commercial feed transport stream 310 may be analyzed by computingdevices, media network equipment, software, combinations thereof, or thelike in order to determine where and how much unused bandwidth 330 maybe present in a commercial feed transport stream 310.

Some embodiments provided herein may be configured to insert targetedcontent 335 a-335 d within the unused bandwidth 330 of the commercialfeed transport stream 310 to generate a targeted content transportstream 315. Illustrative and non-restrictive examples of targetedcontent 335 a-335 d include advertising, entertainment programs,informational programs, messages, video, audio, graphical, and/oranimated content. In an embodiment, the targeted content 335 a-335 dincludes advertisements, such as household addressable televisionadvertisements. In this manner, some embodiments may transmit targetedcontent 335 a-335 d to receiver devices 350 without requiring additionalbandwidth, transmission equipment, network resources, or the like.

In an embodiment, all or substantially all of the unused bandwidth 330may be filled with targeted content 335 a-335 d, for instance, byproviding additional targeted content 335 a-335 d and/or by repeatingpreviously broadcast targeted content, providing receiver devices 350with targeted content that may have been missed earlier storageopportunities. According to some embodiments, the unused bandwidth 330may be analyzed by computing devices, media network equipment, software,combinations thereof, or the like in order to determine the locationsand capacity of the unused bandwidth in order to properly populate theunused bandwidth with targeted content 335 a-335 d.

According to some embodiments, the digital receiver 350 may include aprocessor configured to execute a receiver management application(“receiver application”) stored on a computer-readable medium accessibleby the processor for controlling certain operations of the digitalreceiver. The receiver application may be configured to tune the digitalreceiver to a particular transport stream 305 a-305 n, 310, 315 and toaccess information transmitted through the transport streams, forexample, in response to a signal, schedule, or the like.

In an embodiment, programs in the programming transport streams 305a-305 n may be configured to include content storage signals 345 a-345 dconfigured to instruct the receiver application that targeted content335 a-335 d is being broadcast on the commercial feed transport stream315 for storage in the storage device 360. The content storage signals345 a-345 d may include various types of information, including, withoutlimitation, transport stream identifiers (which commercial feedtransport stream 315 includes the targeted content 335 a-335 d),targeted content identifiers (which targeted content should be stored),targeted content start times, duration, information for handling thetargeted content by the receiver device, or the like. The receiverapplication may use the information in the content storage signals 345a-345 d to tune the receiver device 350 to a particular commercial feedtransport stream 315 to access and store particular targeted content 335a-335 d. In an embodiment where the receiver device 350 includesmultiple tuners, the receiver application may be configured to tune anunused tuner (if available) to the particular commercial feed transportstream 315. In this manner, a user may continue to watch a televisionprogram through the receiver device 350 while the receiver device istuned to a particular commercial feed transport stream 315 to access andstore targeted content 335 a-335 d. In an embodiment, if a tuner is notavailable, the receiver application may be configured to not tune thereceiver device 350 to the commercial feed transport stream 315 and passon the recording opportunity.

In an embodiment, an out-of-band channel 340 may be used to communicateinformation to the receiver device 350 for accessing and storingtargeted content 335 a-335 d. Non-limiting examples of out-of-bandchannels 340 include IP communication channels, radio frequency (RF)communication channels, or the like. For instance, an STB receiverdevice 350 may include an IP communication channel for receivinginformation for accessing and storing targeted content 335 a-335 d.

In an embodiment, the receiver application may access a targeted contentschedule 355 configured to instruct the receiver application to tune thereceiver device 350 to a particular commercial feed transport stream 315to access and store particular targeted content 335 a-335 d according toa predefined schedule. According to some embodiments, the predefinedschedule may be loaded in the receiver device 350 at start-up, may beloaded in the receiver device 350 after startup through a broadcastcarousel, may be loaded in the receiver through the out-of-band channel340, may be a part of the firmware of the receiver device, orcombinations thereof.

In an embodiment, information, such as metadata, associated with thetargeted content 335 a-335 d may be included in the targeted contentsignals 345 a-345 d, 340, 355 and in the commercial feed transportstream 315. For example, the targeted content signals 345 a-345 d, 340,355 may include targeted content information associated with a time andlocation within the commercial feed transport stream 315 to be accessedby the receiver device 350. At the defined time and location, thecommercial feed transport stream 315 may include additional targetedcontent information, such as the transport stream identifiers, targetedcontent identifiers, targeted content start times, duration, or the likefor the receiver device 350. In another embodiment, the additionalinformation in the commercial feed transport stream 315 may includemetadata configured to map commercial and location identifiers from thetargeted content signals 345 a-345 d, 340, 355 to actual commercial andlocation identifiers within the commercial feed transport stream.

Although the commercial feed transport stream 315 has been used as thecarrier of targeted content 335 a-335 d herein, embodiments are not solimited, as any transport stream capable of operating according to someembodiments is contemplated herein.

The receiver application and/or media network applications may beconfigured to provide exception handling, for instance, if the storageof targeted content 335 a-335 d is interrupted. In a television networkexample, targeted commercials may be triggered by a cue tone message, orother suitable trigger, broadcast by the television network which may betriggered at nearly any point in time (for instance, asynchronously).The cue tone on a programming transport stream 305 a-305 n may trigger atargeted avail cue tone when the media network is also broadcastingtargeted content 335 a-335 d through the commercial feed transportstream 315, for example, because unused bandwidth was detected. Theavailability of the targeted content 335 a-335 d may be communicated tothe receiver device 350 through a targeted content signal 345 a-345 d,340, 355 and the receiver device may be storing the targeted contentduring the cue tone. As such, the downloading of the targeted content335 a-335 d may need to be cancelled and the receiver devices 350 withinthe media network that were recording the targeted content may beinformed to cancel the storage process. According to some embodiments, a“cancel message” (not shown) may be inserted within the commercial feedtransport stream 315 responsive to a storage/avail conflict to notifythe receiver devices 350 that the storage of targeted content 335 a-335d must be cancelled, after which the next targeted avail may beexecuted.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of exemplary internal hardware that maybe used to contain or implement the various computer processes andsystems as discussed above. A bus 400 serves as the main informationhighway interconnecting the other illustrated components of thehardware. CPU 405 is the central processing unit of the system,performing calculations and logic operations required to execute aprogram. CPU 405, alone or in conjunction with one or more of the otherelements disclosed in FIG. 4, is an exemplary processing device,computing device or processor as such terms are used within thisdisclosure. Read only memory (ROM) 430 and random access memory (RAM)435 constitute exemplary memory devices.

A controller 420 interfaces with one or more optional memory devices 425to the system bus 400. These memory devices 425 may include, forexample, an external or internal DVD drive, a CD ROM drive, a harddrive, flash memory, a USB drive or the like. As indicated previously,these various drives and controllers are optional devices. Additionally,the memory devices 425 may be configured to include individual files forstoring any software modules or instructions, auxiliary data, commonfiles for storing groups of results or auxiliary, or one or moredatabases for storing the result information, auxiliary data, andrelated information as discussed above.

Program instructions, software or interactive modules for performing anyof the functional steps associated with, among other things, analyzing atransport stream, inserting targeted content into a transport stream,and storing targeted data as described above may be stored in the ROM430 and/or the RAM 435. Optionally, the program instructions may bestored on a tangible computer-readable medium such as a compact disk, adigital disk, flash memory, a memory card, a USB drive, an optical discstorage medium, such as a Blu-ray™ disc, and/or other recording medium.

An optional display interface 430 may permit information from the bus400 to be displayed on the display 435 in audio, visual, graphic oralphanumeric format. The information may include information related toa current job ticket and associated tasks. Communication with externaldevices may occur using various communication ports 440. An exemplarycommunication port 440 may be attached to a communications network, suchas the Internet or a local area network.

The hardware may also include an interface 445 which allows for receiptof data from input devices such as a keyboard 450 or other input device455 such as a mouse, a joystick, a touch screen, a remote control, apointing device, a video input device and/or an audio input device.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. It will alsobe appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipatedalternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may besubsequently made by those skilled in the art which alternatives,variations and improvements are also intended to be encompassed by thefollowing claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A method comprising: determining at least one locationof unused bandwidth in at least one transport stream, the at least onetransport stream comprising one or more non-targeted content elements;inserting at least one targeted content element into the unusedbandwidth of the at least one transport stream; and sending, to areceiver device within a household-addressable media network, at leastone content storage signal configured to instruct the receiver device tostore the at least one targeted content element.
 3. The method of claim2, further comprising transmitting a targeted content schedule to thereceiver device for scheduling storage of the at least one targetedcontent element by the receiver device.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the at least one content storage signal comprises an indicationof a location within the at least one transport stream for the receiverdevice to access information associated with the targeted contentelement.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information associatedwith the targeted content element comprises at least one of: a transportstream identifier; a targeted content identifier; and a targeted contentstart time, a targeted content duration, and targeted content handlinginformation.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one targetedcontent element comprises a targeted advertisement.
 7. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the at least one content storage signal is insertedinto an out-of-band channel.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein: the atleast one transport stream is a commercial feed transport stream; andsending the least one content storage signal comprises inserting the atleast one content storage signal into at least one of a plurality ofprogramming transport streams being transmitted to the receiver device.9. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storingcomputer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor,cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising: determining atleast one location of unused bandwidth in at least one transport stream,the at least one transport stream comprising one or more non-targetedcontent elements; inserting at least one targeted content element intothe unused bandwidth of the at least one transport stream; and sending,to a receiver device within a household-addressable media network, atleast one content storage signal configured to instruct the receiverdevice to store the at least one targeted content element.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed, furthercause the apparatus to perform operations comprising transmitting atargeted content schedule to the receiver device for scheduling storageof the at least one targeted content element by the receiver device. 11.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one content storagesignal comprises an indication of a location within the at least onetransport stream for the receiver device to access informationassociated with the targeted content element.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the information associated with the targeted content elementcomprises at least one of: a transport stream identifier; a targetedcontent identifier; and a targeted content start time, a targetedcontent duration, and targeted content handling information.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one targeted content elementcomprises a targeted advertisement.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the at least one content storage signal is inserted into anout-of-band channel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the at leastone transport stream is a commercial feed transport stream; and sendingthe least one content storage signal comprises inserting the at leastone content storage signal into at least one of a plurality ofprogramming transport streams being transmitted to the receiver device.16. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executableinstructions which, when executed by a processor of a device, cause thedevice to perform operations comprising: determining at least onelocation of unused bandwidth in at least one transport stream, the atleast one transport stream comprising one or more non-targeted contentelements; inserting at least one targeted content element into theunused bandwidth of the at least one transport stream; and sending, to areceiver device within a household-addressable media network, at leastone content storage signal configured to instruct the receiver device tostore the at least one targeted content element.
 17. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions,when executed, further cause the device to perform operations comprisingtransmitting a targeted content schedule to the receiver device forscheduling storage of the at least one targeted content element by thereceiver device.
 18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16,wherein the at least one content storage signal comprises an indicationof a location within the at least one transport stream for the receiverdevice to access information associated with the targeted contentelement.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, whereinthe information associated with the targeted content element comprisesat least one of: a transport stream identifier; a targeted contentidentifier; and a targeted content start time, a targeted contentduration, and targeted content handling information.
 20. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the at least onetargeted content element comprises a targeted advertisement.
 21. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein: the at least onetransport stream is a commercial feed transport stream; and sending theleast one content storage signal comprises inserting the at least onecontent storage signal into at least one of a plurality of programmingtransport streams being transmitted to the receiver device.